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Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and other law enforcement authorities shared details on the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at his golf club in Florida, as well as the proximity of Trump to the assassin.
In an interview with reporters, Bradshaw revealed that a Secret Service member had stopped the purportedly planned attempt when they observed the rifle’s barrel close to the following hole Trump would play on the course.
Below is a transcript of the exchange between Bradshaw and a reporter:
BRADSHAW: “The Secret Service agent that was on the course did a fantastic job. What they do is they have an agent that jumps one hole ahead of time to were the president was at, and he was able to spot this rifle barrel sticking out of the fence and immediately engaged that individual, at which time the individual took off.”
Reporter: “So I just want to understand, there was a rifle — so one of the agents saw, on the golf course, a rifle pointing out of the fence? Was it chain Link — okay. So he saw that and engaged him?”
UNKNOWN: “That is correct, yes.”
Reporter: “The former president was on the golf course behind him? How close?”
UNKNOWN: “It was one or two holes behind.”
Reporter: “Why is that?”
UNKNOWN: “Because the bubble moves across — through the golf course, so our agents will get there first, clear it. He noticed that the rifle was pointing out, our agents engaged. We are not sure right now if the individual was able to take a shot at our agents, but, for sure, our agents were able to engage with the subject.”
Reporter: “Was he hit?”
UNKNOWN: “I — I don’t want to — “
BRADSHAW: “It doesn’t appear so. Yeah?”
Reporter 2: “How far away was the president? How far away was Donald Trump when this gentleman was fought and stopped?”
BRADSHAW: “Probably between 300 and 500 yards. But with a rifle and a scope like that, that’s not a long distance.”
WATCH:
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris responded shortly after Trump was deemed “safe” after shots were fired near Trump National Golf Club on Sunday.
According to numerous reports, shots were fired on Sunday at or near the Trump National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump, the GOP contender for president in 2024, was playing golf.
The White House said in a statement that Biden and Harris had received a briefing and would continue to receive updates regarding the investigation. The White House said that they are “relieved to know that he is safe.”
Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Twitter that his state would investigate the apparent assassination attempt on Trump: “The people deserve the truth about the would be assassin and how he was able to get within 500 yards of the former president and current GOP nominee,” DeSantis wrote on social media.
Trump’s top advisers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, sent out an all-staff memo after the incident today: “Today, for the second time in two months, an evil monster attempted to take the life of President Trump.” They praised “the great work of the United States Secret Service,” for keeping him safe and said, “This is not a matter that we take lightly. Your safety is always our top priority. We ask that you remain vigilant in your daily comings and goings.”
“President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time,” Steven Cheung, Trump’s campaign communications director, said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
Trump wrote in a statement released by his campaign on Sunday, “I AM SAFE AND WELL! Nothing will slow me down. I will NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again.”